The sun turned out to greet the first day of action in the Northumberland Plate Festival this week - and it is set to stay, which is great news for the thousands of race-goers who will be turning up at Newcastle Racecourse for Saturday's showcase event.
Plate Day is the highlight of the festival - and indeed the racing year at Gosforth Park - and for once the signs, weather-wise, could not be better.
The build-up to the main event began on Thursday, with Seaton Delval Stakes Day marking the start of the Northumberland Plate Festival.
And the day saw crowds of spectators turn out to enjoy the day's action - and the sunshine.
Sunglasses and sun-hats were out in force as many basked in the heat.
The heatwave continued on Friday in the run-up to the festival's Gosforth Park Cup Night in the evening, with the competitive race over five furlongs set to take place ahead of a Group 3 Betfair Exchange Hoppings Stakes for top class fillies, which celebrates its 20-year anniversary.
And Plate Day on Saturday no doubt will see plenty of sunny weather attire as spectators arrive at the racecourse for the three-day festival's highlight event.
